THE HAMBURG MICHEL
The city's most famous landmark
St. Michael's Church in Hamburg: a landmark with a colourful history
The ‘Michel’, as the St. Michaeliskirche is affectionately known by the people of Hamburg, is much more than just a place of worship. With its striking tower, it characterises the silhouette of the Hanseatic city and looks back on an eventful past that is closely linked to the fate of the city and its inhabitants.
High above the rooftops of Hamburg, the Michel, the main church of St. Michaelis, is an integral part of the cityscape. Its history begins in the 17th century, more precisely in 1647, when construction of the first church began. But it fell victim to a fire in 1750. The second Michel, built in 1762, was also destroyed – this time by a lightning strike in 1906.
From Baroque to Modern
But the people of Hamburg were not discouraged and built their Michel a third time. The present-day building, inaugurated in 1912, is an imposing baroque church with a 132-metre-high tower that offers a breathtaking view of the city and the harbour. Inside, the Michel impresses with its simple elegance and a total of five organs. The figure above the entrance portal is also worth seeing. It shows the archangel Michael, who gave the main church its name.
The underworld of the Michel
The entire nave is underpinned by vaulted crypts. These crypts contain the graves of composer Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and Ernst Georg Sonnin, the builder of the church. Numerous other Hamburg personalities have also found their final resting place here. In addition, the crypt houses the ‘Michaelitica’ exhibition on the history of the main church, and the half-hour film ‘Hamburg History Rng’, which deals with the history of the city of Hamburg and its five main churches.
A beacon for seafarers
For the seafarers who once set out from Hamburg to explore the world, the Michel was an important point of reference. They could see the tower from afar and knew that they would soon be back in their hometown. For them, the Michel was a symbol of hope and a safe return.
More than just a church
Today, the Michel is still a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. Whether you visit the viewing platform, attend a service or just enjoy the atmosphere – the Michel is a place of peace and reflection in the middle of the vibrant city.
Highlight with a wide range of offers
In addition to its religious significance, St. Michael’s is also a cultural centre. Concerts, exhibitions and other events take place here regularly.
Hamburg’s St. Michael’s is a landmark with a turbulent history that continues to fascinate people to this day. It is a symbol of the unshakeable will of the people of Hamburg to rebuild their city again and again while preserving their traditions.
Contact / connection
- Red Double-Decker
- Stop 19, St. Michael’s Church
- S-Bahn
- S1, S2, S3 Stadthausbrücke
- Address:
- Englische Planke 1
- 20459 Hamburg
- Phone: +49 40 376 780
- Mail: info@st-michaelis.de
- Internet: www.st-michaelis.de